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ROBERT M. WEBB AND ISAAC HERMANN, or NEW Your, N. Y.

Leam Patent No. 67,089, darai my 23,1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEALING PADLOGKS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that we` R. M. WEBB and IBAAG HERMANN, of the city, county,and State of New York, .have invented a new and useful vImprovement inApplying Seals to Locks, and that the following description, taken inconnection withthe accompanying drawings hereinafter referred to, formsa full and exact speciication ofthe same, wherein we have set forth thenature and principles of o'ur said. improvements, by which our inventionmay be distinguished from all others of a similar class, together withsuch parts as we claim, and desire to have secured to us by LettersPatent.V I

The present invention relates to a new and improved manner of applyingseals to locks for the purpose of indicating when a lock has beentampered with, or attempts made to pick it; and for this purpose itconsists in arranging within the key-hole ofthe lock, and in line withthc same, either embracing the whole extent ofthe said key-hole or not,a spindle or rod, that extending through the lock-casing projectsfromits opposite side, where it is encased, and moveswithin a concentrictube or casing, permanently secured to the lock-casing. YThis tube hasits outer end open, and madeof a cup-shape, so as to receive a paper orother seal, properly prepared therefor, which seal, to prevent its beingremoved, is there secured by covering it with wax, or other suitablesealing material, so stamped that it cannot be removed, andA thensimilarly resealed, without the use of a corresponding or`otherstamp;the said spindle, which extends through the lockcasing,'as hereinabovestated, being provided at its` end that is toward the seal used, asabove explained, with a cutting edge or blade,

-or other suitable device, or in any other manner properly constructedfor cancelling the said seal, when brought in contact therewith by thepushing in of the said spindle caused by attempting to insert the key inthe key-hole of the lock, or any other instrument for unlocking or forpicking the same, as will be hereinafter fully explained. In theaccompanying plate of drawingsur improvements are illustrated'- Figure 1being an outside view of the front plate of the lock-casing.

Figure 2, a similiar'view of the back plate. i A

Figure 3, a transverse section, taken in the plane of the line :c z,fig. 1. y

Figures 4 and 5, sections taken respectively in the planes of the linesy y andvz z, fig. 3; and

Figure 6, a detail view to be hereinafter referred to. i

A, in the drawings, represents the lock, which is of that class knownand commonly called a padlock, and as it may be of any of the ordinaryconstructions and arrangements of parts for such locks, it thereforeneeds no particular description herein, but for the more perfectoperation of the present invention it is best that Ait should beself-locking, as will be readily apparent from thedescription whichfollows. ,B and C, respectively, the front and back plates of thelocking-casing, from both of` which, and in the same line with eachother, outwardly projects a hollow sleeve or tube D, both of which areopen at their outer ends E, and at their inner ends are secured to orform a part of the front or back plate of the lock, according as theyproject from either one or the other of the same; and with both the saidfront and back plates provided with an opening, G, corresponding to theinterior diameter ofthe said tubes, or nearly so. Through these tubes D,from the outer end of the one attached to the front plate to the outerend of the one secured to the back plate, extends a spindle or rod, H,around which in the tube of the back plate is coiled a spiral spring, I,that at one end restsagainst a collar, m, secured tothe said spindle,and at the other rests upon the shoulder a, at the outer end of the saidtube. 'lhe front end of-the spindle H is bored out, of a conical shape,as shown in fig. 3, and about the said rod, within the front tube, is aconcentric tube or sleeve, L, which is` confined between the shoulder bof the front end of such tube andthe inside of the back plate of thelockcasing. To theinner end of this tube L an arm, M, is secured, bymeans of which, when the said tube is turned, as will be hereinafterexplained, the bolt of the lock can be properly moved for ,locking orunlocking the same, as may be desired, as with an ordinary key. Thissleeve L is notched at c of its outer end, corresponding to which is anotch, d, made in the outer end of the front tube D of the lock-casing.

From the above description, it is plain to be seen that if a key, N, ofthe form shown in iig. 3 of the drawings, be inserted in the outer frontend of the spindle H, with the projection g upon such key, in line withthe notch d of the front tube D, arid then such key be pressed inward,it will move the said spindle forward in the lock, causing its back endO to project from the outer ond of thetube of the back plate, at thesame time compressing the spiral spring I, when the projection of' thekey having become interlecked with thc notch of the sleeve L, by thenturning such key in the proper direction it will turn the said sleeve inconjunction there with, and thus through its arm M move the bolt of the.oel-z, either to lock or to unlock the same, as the ease may be. To theouter end of the spindle H, upon the back plate of the lock, s. knife orcutting edge is secured, and over the outer end of the back tube,surrounding said spindle, a eup-shaped cap, l?, is attached, or formedas a. part thereof. This cup is provided i'cr the reception ci' the seulmede of paper, card-boord, sheet metal, or other suitable material, andof a proper shape to fit into the said cup, where, by using sealing-waxor other suitable material, it can be secured, and in such a manner, bystamping such wax, that if removed by an vunauthorized person, andnotresealed and restamped as before, the fact of such removal will beconsequently made A known by an examination ofthe lock.

By thus sealing the outer end of the back tube ofthe lock casing, andfrom the construction and arrangement of parts in connection therewith,as above explained, it is plain to be understood that if the key beinserted in the lock, as has been hereinabove described, which pressesin the spindle, or if the said spindle be pressed inward by any otherinstrument or implement suitable for operating the lock,vor by anyattempt to piek the lock, the breaking of the seal upon the rear side ofthe lock-casing must necessarily occur, thereby showing nt once to anyperson that the lock has been either unlocked after being sealed, ortampered with at least by some person or persons not authorized so todo; the importance of which is obvious in connection with mailbags,safes, express-trunks, and other receptacles for valuables, as nell asfor many other purposes, such as in distilleries, etc.; and also inconnection with the proper enforcement of the internal revenue laws, toprevent fraud and dishonesty in the returns made under thesame.

'The cutting edge of the spindle H necessarily defaces or cancels theseal as it is pushed through the lock by the action of the key or otherimplement upon it; but in lieu of this cutting edge there are otherforms Which may be given to the said spindle, whichV will accomplish thesame result, as is obvious. In lieu of using a paper seal, and thensealing suchl sea-l with wax, as above explained, thepaper seal may bedispensed with, and only the sealing by wax employed, the same end beingaccomplished in either case.

The form of the cutting edge b of' the spindle edge H is angular-shaped,whereby, as is obvious, by turning the spindle in the tube, it can bechanged in position or adjusted at any desired time ortimes, to do whichan aperture, l, is madein theconical end of the spindle H, to receive apin or other sharp-pointed implement, by which thc said spindle can beturned around within the lock-casing; the object of the above being tocause the number of times which thc lock has been tampered with to beindicated upon the seal without necessarily resealing it each and everytime. i

From the above description it is self-evident that as the unsealing, asit were, of the lock is produced by the insertion of the key, itisdesirable or best to use a. selfslocking lock, and with such locks alsoto insert a. plug in the bolt-aperture of the bow or shackle of thesame, so as to prevent the said bow or shackle from closing and lockingby accident, and before it is desired or required to lock the lock.

Having thus described our invention, tvhnt we claim asinetr, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is- 1. The spring spindle H, with sharpcutting edge a ,'operating in combination with the key N against theseal in cap P, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. The sleeve L, encircling the spindle H, with arm M and notch eoperating in combination with the spring spindle H and key N, havingprojection g, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

The above specification of our invention signed by us this 28th day ofJuly, 186B.

R. M. WEBB, I. HERMANN.

Witnesses:

ALBERT W. BROWN, WM. F. McNAMAnA.

